CATHETER COMPLICATIONS IN AIDS PATIENTS TREATED FOR CYTOMEGALOVIRUS RETINITIS

Purpose: To describe the complications of central venous catheter use for intravenous therapy of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in patients with AIDS. Methods: Retrospective review of 388 patients with AIDS an d CMV retinitis treated with intravenous medications through an indwel ling catheter. Results: The catheter complication rate was 1.2 complic ations per person-year (0.33 complications per 100 catheter-days). Cur rent injecting drug use increased the risk of infectious complications [hazard ratio (HR), 1.73; P = 0.04] whereas former use did not (HR, 0 .96; P = 0.88). Subdermal port catheters increased the risk of bactere mia (HR, 1.78; P = 0.05). Mortality for the first complication was 5.8 %. Forty percent of patients required catheter removal, and 86.8% of t hese patients required reinsertion of another catheter. Conclusions: C atheter complications are a substantial problem in patients with CMV r etinitis treated with daily intravenous therapy. (C) 1998 Lippincott W illiams & Wilkins.